Indian police detain protesters seeking election chief’s resignation
More than 100 protesters were reportedly detained in New Delhi as demonstrations continued against India’s election chief over alleged irregularities in voter rolls. Opposition parties backed the protests, while police said gatherings around the designated protest site had not been authorised. The Election Commission has rejected wrongdoing allegations.
Indian police detained dozens of young protesters in New Delhi for a second day as demonstrations continued against the chief election commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, over alleged irregularities in voter rolls. Local media reported that more than 100 people demanding Kumar’s resignation were detained around Jantar Mantar, a government-designated protest site. The area was sealed behind police barricades on Saturday and had a heavy police presence.
The protests have received backing from opposition parties, including the Gen Z-led Cockroach Janta Party, or CJP. The party argues that changes to voter rolls favour Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party. CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke accused Delhi Police of cracking down on students and activists.
He said peaceful protest was a democratic right and warned that attempts to suppress the demonstrations could draw more people into the movement. Delhi Police did not comment on the reported detentions. It said, however, that unauthorised gatherings, processions and demonstrations were prohibited around Jantar Mantar, adding that no permission had been granted for a protest that day.
Activist Yogendra Yadav questioned how peaceful dissent could be accommodated if a designated protest site was unavailable. The demonstrations follow an investigation by The Indian Express alleging impropriety during a large-scale revision that removed millions of names from voter lists. The Election Commission has rejected the allegations.
Hundreds also demonstrated on Friday in areas around Jantar Mantar and at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park. Protesters said mobile internet services were cut around protest locations, as reportedly happened during demonstrations in July. Opposition parties have announced further actions, including a march to the Election Commission on Tuesday and nationwide “Save Democracy” rallies.
The CJP has also called for a major mobilisation of young Indians in New Delhi on October 10.
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